Oven enclosure for a grill

ABSTRACT

A foldable enclosure for placing over a charcoal grill or the like so as to roast or bake viands. An enclosure formed of five relatively light weight panels that are joined together with hinges, the hinges performing the dual function of reinforcing the panels and permitting the panels to be folded so that the enclosure can be transported in a flat condition. A clip for retaining the enclosure in a folded condition. Handles for lifting the enclosure during use of the same and for expediting transportation of the enclosure in a folded condition.

Jackson 1 1 Nov. 5, 1974 1 1 OVEN ENCLOSURE FOR A GRILL [76] Inventor:William B. Jackson, 1256 Laurel Hill Dr., San Mateo, Calif. 94402 122]Filed: May 9, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 468,227

[52] U.S. Cl 126/9 R [51] Int. Cl. F24c l/l6, A47j 37/01, F24b 3/00 [58]Field of Search 126/9 R, 29, 30, 25 R, 1 126/25 A, 274, 275; 220/6;217/12, 43 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 489,711 1/1893Mandioni 220/34 A 1,404,808 1/1922 Taylor 126/9 R 1,458,409 6/1923Higham 126/9 R 2,715,897 8/1955 Newland et a1 126/29 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 23,041 10/1915 Great Britain 126/9 R H I 11ml 1111 l 22 L6-l1 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Assistant Examiner-Harold JoyceAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert Charles Hill [57] ABSTRACT A foldableenclosure for placing over a charcoal grill or the like so as to roastor bake viands. An enclosure formed of five relatively light weightpanels that are joined together with hinges, the hinges performing thedual function of reinforcing the panels and permitting the panels to befolded so that the enclosure can be transported in a flat condition. Aclip for retaining the enclosure in a folded condition. Handles forlifting the enclosure during use of the same and for expeditingtransportation of the enclosure in a folded condition.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures L I i OVEN ENCLOSURE FOR A GRILLCROSS-REFERENC E TO RELATED APPLICATION The present invention is relatedin subject matter and certain advantageous features to my co-pendingapplication for a portable knock down oven, Ser. No. 292,541; filedSept. 27. I972, now US. Pat. No. 3,812,836.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to foldable oven enclosures and more particularly for suchenclosure that is useable with charcoal grills or the like.

Known patents that might be considered to have a degree of relevance tothe present invention are US. Pat. No. 1,709,289; 1,156,773; 2,969,055;3,026,866 and 3,067,737.

Although the devices disclosed in the above enumerated prior artreferences have improved outdoor cookery, they fail to disclose all ofthe advantageous features achieved by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there isprovided an enclosure constructed of relatively rigid impervious panelsthat are movable between a flat folded position for transport and anopen operative position wherein the panels define an enclosure forplacement over a charcoal grill or the like. Viands cooked on a charcoalgrill disposed in the enclosure of the invention have improved flavorand texture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an oven enclosurethat combines adequate strength and light weight in an optimum way. Thisobject is achieved according to thepresent invention by joiningthepanels to one another with continuous hinges, the plates of the hingesbeing secured to the peripheral margin of the panels so as to reinforceand stiffen the panels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosure inwhich the amount of air flow through the enclosure can be closelycontrolled. This object is achieved according to the present inventionbecause the employment of continuous hinges virtually eliminates leakagebetween panels joined by such hinges; the corners of the enclosure arearranged to afford a closely controlled open area which affordscirculation of air adequate for maintaining combustion of the charcoalin the grill but inadequate to dissipate the heat and smoke within theoven enclosure.

Contributing to the attainment of the object of making the ovenenclosure simple and light weight is the employment of the hinges forlegs which serve to space the panels such as to admit combustion air tothe interior under the edges of the panels. By employing extensions ofthe hinges as legs the foldability of the oven is not impaired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ovenenclosure that is readily foldable for transport. This object isachieved by securing some of the hinge leaves to the panel margins byremovable screws so that when the screws are removed, the panels can befolded to overlying relation to one another for ready transport.

A feature and advantage of the aforementioned hinged structure is thatthe panels forming the enclosure can be laid out in a flat condition forexpeditious cleaning.

Yet another object of the present invention is to so arrange the hingeconnection between the panels that the inner surfaces of the enclosureare inward when the oven is folded to a flat condition for transport.This is advantageous in that it substantially reduces the likelihoodthat the users hands or equipment will become soiled by the innersurfaces of the enclosure that may contain grease and/or soot. I

A feature and advantage of the present invention is that one or moreextremely simple clips are provided for retaining the oven in a foldedcondition thereby expediting transporting the same in a. flat condition.Also contributing to convenient transportation of the oven is a pair ofhandles that are useful both for transporting the oven in a flatcondition and for raising the oven from the grill as may be necessaryduring cooking procedures.

The foregoing together with other objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF. THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of acharcoal grill with an oven enclosure according to the present inventionshown in phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an oven enclosure of the invention inthe assembled or operative position.

FIG. 2A is a detailed enlarged scale of a fragment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2B is a detailed enlarged scale of another fragment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2C is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2C-2C of FIG.2.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an oven enclosure of the invention shownin a folded position for transport.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clip according to the invention forretaining the oven in a folded position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT support rack 13 will be bakedand will receive a delicious smoke flavor during cooking.

Oven closure 16 includes a top panel 18 that has a length and width inexcess of fire box 12 so as to define an air passage between theperiphery of fire pan 12 and the inner walls of enclosure 16.

Top panel 18 is constructed of suitable fire resistant imperviousmaterial such as sheet aluminum having a thickness in the range of about.020 inches to about 0.40 inches. Attached to the respective peripheralmargins of top panel 18 for stiffening or reinforcing the panel areplates 20A, 22A, 24A and 26A of continuous hinges 20, 22, 24 and 26. Thehinge plates A 4 26A are secured to the peripheral margin of panel 18 bysuitable means such as rivets 28. Plates 20A 26A are preferably at leastas thick as top panel 18 so that the panel is stiffened and reinforcedby the presence of the hinge plates and their securement to theperipheral margin of the plate. As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2and 2B, the hinge plates are secured on the upper or exterior surface oftop panel 18; such location of the hinge plates produces a smoothinterior surface so as to expedite cleaning of such interior surface.Each of the hinges 20 26 has a second hinge plate which is pivotally orhingedly connected to the first plate, such second hinge plates beingidentified respectively as 20B, 22B, 24B and 268.

An end panel having a horizontal dimension corresponding to the width ofpanel 18 is secured to hinge plate 208 by means of rivets or the like32. There is an opposing end panel secured to the second plate of hinge24 which cannot be seen in FIG. 2 but which is identical in shape andsize to panel 30. The vertical dimension of panel 30 is such that thepanel extends from the level at or about fire pan 12 to a heightsufficiently above the fire pan that top panel 18 will clear viandsdisposed on support rack 13. A side panel 34 is secured to hinge plate228 by means of rivets 36; the horizontal dimension of side panel 34corresponds to the length of top panel 18 and the vertical dimension ofthe side panel is the same as the vertical dimension of end panel 30. Aside panel identical in shape and size to panel 34 is provided inopposition to side panel 34 and is secured to the second plate of hinge26. Because end panel 30 and its opposing counterpart and side panel 34and its opposing counterpart are hingedly joined to top panel 18, suchpanels can be folded upward into surface contact with the side panel. Itshould be noted that the vertical dimension of side panel 34 and itsopposing counterpart is no greater than the width of top panel 18 inorder that the side panels can be folded up into surface contact withthe top panel when the oven enclosure is moved to a folded position.

Secured along opposite vertical edge margins of panel 30 and itsopposing counterpart are identical vertically extending hinges 38. Eachhinge has a first leaf 38A which is permanently secured to one edgemargin of an end panel. rivets 40 exemplifying a suitable means forsecuring the hinge leaf to the end panel. Hinges 38 have a lengthexceeding the vertical dimension of panel 30 and its opposingcounterpart so as to form a space 42 between the lower extremity of theside panels and end panels and the lower extremity of the verticallyextending hinges 38. Thus when the oven enclosure is placed on a flatsurface that supports the grill an air space is provided which admitsthe combustion air to the charcoal in fire pan 13. Each hinge 38 has asecond leaf 38B that is joined for pivotal movement to leaf 38A.Adjacent the lower extremity of side panel 34 and its opposingcounterpart, leaf 38B is formed with an aperture 44; the edge margins ofside panel 34 and its opposing counterpart are formed with holes 46 thatalign with holes 44. Holes 46 are arranged so as to engage the threadsofa threaded fastener 48, aperture 44 being a clearance 'hole for suchfastener. As can be seen in FIG. 2A, fastener 48 is passed throughaperture 44 and threadedly engaged in hole 46 to retain side panel 34and its opposing counterpart to hinge leaf 388. Such retention fixes thepanels of the enclosure into a parallelepiped configuration so that theenclosure can perform its intended function. Removal of the screws 48permits the oven enclosure to be moved to its folded position which isshown in FIG. 3.

By removing all four screws 48 and first folding side panel 34 and itsopposing counterpart into contact with the lower surface of top panel 18followed by folding hinges 38 to a flat position and movement of endpanel 30 and its opposing counterpart into contact with the lowersurfaces of the side panels, the oven enclosure is moved to a foldedposition at which transport and storage is facilitated. For retainingthe enclosure in such folded condition there is a pair of identicalclips 50, one of whichis shown at enlarged scale in FIG. 4. Clip 50 isformed of resilient spring steel or the like and is of generallyU-shaped configuration. The clip has two arms 52 and 54 which are heldin generally parallel spaced relation by an end web 56. End web 56 is soproportioned that the space between arms 52 and 54 is equal to thecombined thickness of hinge plates 22A and 228, top panel 18, side panel34 and its opposing counterpart, and hinge leaves 38A and 388. The clipsare inserted centrally of the longest dimension of top panel 18 (seeFIG. 3) so that the oven enclosure is secured in the folded position forconvenient transportation or storage.

For facilitating carrying the oven enclosure both in the folded or theoperative position identical handles edge margin of panel 18 and hingeplates 20A and 24A.

Because of the finger clearance beneath the handles, the handlesfunction to afford a convenient hand grip when the oven enclosure is inboth the folded and operative positions. Moreover, screw 60 performs thedual function of retaining the handle posts in place and securing hingeplates 20A and 24A to the edge margins of top panel 18.

Because the hinge plates and hinge leaves make overlapping surface tosurface contact with the edge margins of the respective panels andbecause the hinges are continuous, the enclosure is substantially airtight. In order to afford a minimal degree of circulation of combustionair to the charcoal within the fire pan 13 four vent openings areprovided in the upper corners of the enclosure. With reference to FIG.28 it will be noted that the edges of the panels are set back from thepivot axis of the hinges and that hinges 20A and 38 terminate remotefrom the corners of the panels. This form of constructions forms aninverted generally L-shaped opening 62 at each upper corner. It ispreferred that the area of each such L-shaped opening be of the order ofmagnitude of approximately one inch so that there is sufficient aircirculation to maintain combustion of the charcoal within fire pan 14but insufficient exhaust area to permit significant heat to escape fromthe interior of the enclosure.

The operation of the enclosure of the present invention is as follows:With the enclosure in the folded position of FIG. 3 it is a simplematter to remove clips 50 and grasp handles 56 in either hand whereupongravity will cause the end and side panels to swing down. With the endand side panels in such position hinge leaves 388 are manipulatedrelative to panel 34 and its opposing counterpart until hole 46 alignswith aperture 44 in hinge leaf 38B. Screws 48 are then installed and theenclosure is ready for use. After viands are placed on rack 13 theenclosure is lowered over the rack so that the heat and smoke from thecharcoal fire within fire pan 12 is captured within the enclosure.Accordingly, baking or roasting can proceed and a delicately smoke likeflavor is imparted to the viands. Space 42 beneath the lower edges ofthe side panel and the end panels permits entry of combustion air, aportion of which is circulated out through vent opening 62 so as tomaintain the fire within fire pan 12 in an appropriate state. Shouldattention to the viands be necessary it is a simple matter to lift theoven enclosure by grasping handles 56. When cooking has been completed,screws 48 are removed after which side panel 34 and its opposingcounterpart are folded upward into surface contact with the innersurface of panel 18. Thereafter, hinges 38 are folded flat and end panel30 and its opposing counterpart is folded into a similar positionparallel to the previously folded panels. Clips 50 are then installed onopposite sides of the folded even so that transportation and storage ofthe oven is facilitated. Should it be desired to thoroughly clean theinterior surface of the enclosure, clips 50 are removed, the oven isinverted from the position shown in FIG. 3 and the side panels and endpanels can be laid back thus exposing the entire inner surface forthorough cleaning.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides an ovenenclosure which is light in weight, convenient to use and convenient tofold for storage and transportation. Although one embodiment of theinvention has been shown and described it will be obvious that otheradaptations and modifications can be made without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

'l. A foldable oven enclosure for a grill of the type having a fire panand a perforated viands support rack overlying the fire pan, saidenclosure comprising a rectangular substantially rigid impervious toppanel having a length and width exceeding that of the grill, meanssecured to the peripheral margin of said top panel for stiffening saidtop panel, said stiffening means including four continuous horizontalhinges having lengths corresponding to respective peripheral margins ofsaid top panel, each said hinge having a first plate and a second plateconnected to said first plate for pivotal movement relative thereto,means for securing the first plate of each said hinge along a respectiveperipheral margin of said top panel, four rectangular substantiallyrigid impervious side panels each having vertical dimension no greaterthan the width of said top panel, said side panels each having ahorizontal dimension corresponding to respective peripheral margins ofsaid top panel, means for securing the upper horizontal margin of saidside panels to said second plates of respective said hinges so that saidside panels are movable between a folded position into surface contactwith said top panel and an operative position at which said side panelsdepend perpendicularly from said top panel to define a rightparallelepiped chamber and in which the vertical edges or adjacent saidside panels are disposed in parallel juxtaposition to form cornerregions of said chamber, means for stiffening said side panels and forsealing said corner regions, last said means including four equilengthcontinuous vertical hinges having a length exceeding the verticaldimension of said side panels, said vertical hinges each having a firstleaf and a second leaf connected to said first leaf for pivotal movementrelative thereto, means for securing the first leaf of each saidvertical hinge to a respective vertical edge of two opposite side panelsso that said two opposite side panels are stiffened by said verticalhinges, and means for removably connecting the second leaves to verticaledge margins of the other two side panels, the excessive length of thevertical hinges acting to space the lower edges of said side panelsabove the lower extremities of said vertical hinges to define an inletfor combustion air to said fire pan.

2. An oven enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said connecting meanscomprises a portion of each said second leaf defining an aperture, eachvertical edge margin of said other side panels having a thread engaginghole therein in alignment with respective said apertures, and a threadedfastener passed through each said aperture and engaged in said hole.

3. An oven enclosure according to claim 1 including means forming fourair vents in the upper portion of said enclosure, said air vents beingdefined at the corners of said top panel where two adjacent side panelsintersect one another, each said side vent being formed by setting backthe edge of said panels from the pivot axis of said hinges, each saidair vent having an area of approximately 1 square inch.

4. An oven enclosure according to claim 1 in combination with first andsecond generally U-shaped resilient clips for retaining said oven in afolded position, said U-shaped clip having generally parallel arms andmeans spacing said arms from one another by a distance substantiallyequal to the sum of the thicknesses of two said hinge plates, two saidhinge leaves, said top panel and two said side panels.

5. An oven enclosure according to claim 1 including first and secondhand grips and means for mounting respective said hand grips to said toppanel adjacent opposite edge margins thereof.

6. An oven enclosure according to claim 5 wherein said hand grips aremounted on said first hinge plates and wherein said hand grip mountingmeans includes fastening means extending through said top panel and saidfirst hinge plate into engagement with said hand grip so that saidfastening means secures said first hinge said enclosure.

1. A foldable oven enclosure for a grill of the type having a fire panand a perforated viands support rack overlying the fire pan, saidenclosure comprising a rectangular substantially rigid impervious toppanel having a length and width exceeding that of the grill, meanssecured to the peripheral margin of said top panel for stiffening saidtop panel, said stiffening means including four continuous horizontalhinges having lengths corresponding to respective peripheral margins ofsaid top panel, each said hinge having a first plate and a second plateconnected to said first plate for pivotal movement relative thereto,means for securing the first plate of each said hinge along a respectiveperipheral margin of said top panel, four rectangular substantiallyrigid impervious side panels each having vertical dimension no greaterthan the width of said top panel, said side panels each having ahorizontal dimension corresponding to respective peripheral margins ofsaid top panel, means for securing the upper horizontal margin of saidside panels to said second plates of respective said hinges so that saidside panels are movable between a folded position into surface contactwith said top panel and an operative position at which said side panelsdepend perpendicularly from said top panel to define a rightparallelepiped chamber and in which the vertical edges or adjacent saidside panels are disposed in parallel juxtaposition to form cornerregions of said chamber, means for stiffening said side panels and forsealing said corner regions, last said means including four equi-lengthcontinuous vertical hinges having a length exceeding the verticaldimension of said side panels, said vertical hinges each having a firstleaf and a second leaf connected to said first leaf for pivotal movementrelative thereto, means for securing the first leaf of each saidvertical hinge to a respective vertical edge of two opposite side panelsso that said two opposite side panels are stiffened by said verticalhinges, and means for removably connecting the second leaves to verticaledge margins of the other two side panels, the excessive length of thevertical hinges acting to space the lower edges of said side panelsabove the lower extremities of said vertical hinges to define an inletfor combustion air to said fire pan.
 2. An oven enclosure according toclaim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a portion of each saidsecond leaf defining an aperture, each vertical edge margin of saidother side panels having a thread engaging hole therein in alignmentwith respective said apertures, and a threaded fastener passed througheach said aperture and engaged in said hole.
 3. An oven enclosureaccording to claim 1 including means forming four air vents in the upperportion of said enclosure, said air vents being defined at the cornersof said top panel where two adjacent side panels intersect one another,each said side vent being formed by setting back the edge of said panelsfrom the pivot axis of said hinges, each said air vent having an area ofapproximately 1 square inch.
 4. An oven enclosure according to claim 1in combination with first and second generally U-shaped resilient clipsfor retaining said oven in a folded position, said U-shaped clip havinggenerally parallel arms and means spacing said arms from one another bya distance substantially equal to the sum of the thicknesses of two saidhinge plates, two said hinge leaves, said top panel and two said sidepanels.
 5. An oven enclosure according to claim 1 including first andsecond hand grips and means for mounting respective said hand grips tosaid top panel adjacent opposite edge margins thereof.
 6. An ovenenclosure according to claim 5 wherein said hand grips are mounted onsaid first hinge plates and wherein said hand grip mounting meansincludes fastening means extending through said top panel and said firsthinge plate into engagement with said hand grip so that said fasteningmeans secures said first hinge plate to said top panel and mounts saidhand grip to said enclosure.